I often hear people say that their horse has stifle, hock, or sacroiliac (SI) joint dysfunction 👇

I often hear people say that their horse has stifle, hock, or sacroiliac (SI) joint dysfunction. Rarely do people consider the coxofemoral joint, aka the hip, as a pain generator. Due to the anatomy of the hind legs, an injury in one of these joints often leads to compensation patterns in the others. Understanding anatomy allows us to see how the hip joint ties in movement from the pelvic limb to the spine. The pelvis links the spine to the hind legs via the SI joints and the hip joints. The SI joints are where the sacrum attaches to the iliac portion of the pelvis. The femur sits in the acetabulum on the pelvis, creating the hip joint. The SI joint has limited movement. In contrast to the SI joint, the hip joint is a ball and socket joint. This type of joint has the greatest range of motion. From flexion to extension, abduction to adduction, and medial to lateral rotation – the hip joint is a key player in pelvic limb movement. Why does it matter? Correct hip function is key in hind end engagement. Any hip dysfunction can significantly impact your horse's ability to carry weight, engage the hind end, and activate the core correctly. A chiropractic adjustment of the hip can help to restore joint range of motion, decrease pain, and increase proprioception by stimulating muscle spindles and joint mechanoreceptors. This mechanism decreases muscle hypertonicity and restores proper joint biomechanics, which decreases the risk of injury and helps to maintain joint health. Pay attention the next time your horse is stiff in the hind end. Is the hip involved? 🥰🎥 @peakperformanceintl